Mitra Johnston has reopened her consignment and auction business Auction De Mitra.Since originally opening, she has operated from various locations in Hamilton including The Stables at the top of Spurling Hill, but now, after a six-month hiatus, she is located in the IBM Building at 20 Dundonald Street, next to the BIU gas station.She explained she has had a series of misfortunes, including thefts, an arson attack on her shop and her own health issues which ultimately forced her to step back from her business for several months, but she is operating again in her new, secure Dundonald Street location.“The concept of my business is recycling,” said Mrs Johnson. She has decided, now that she has reopened, she will also offer repairs and restoration to furniture that comes in to Auction De Mitra for consignment. “We have a lot of Bermudian cedar and Virginian cedar which needs fixing,” she explained. “You can use old furniture, and it is often better than new furniture,” she said.“If you consign old furniture, as it’s the recession you can make some money — and people buying furniture now want to spend as little as possible. And on top of that, it helps keep the environment clean by recycling.”She added: “I want to serve the community. Occasionally I donate to people in need — I’ve always done that.”Mrs Johnston has always been an entrepreneur, running a beauty salon and then a takeout restaurant before starting Auction De Mitra. “I always tell people, if they have some money and want to invest it I can give them an idea — my head is like a computer — twenty-four seven, I’m always thinking of ideas. There is a lot of money here; you just have to put in the effort and time. You can make anything work, you just have to be constant — don’t give up, just go on,” she said.An Iranian who grew up in the United Kingdom, she is married to Bermudian IT professional Barry Johnston. “I enjoy the island and going to the beach. I enjoy meeting people and giving them what they need for their homes and offices.”Mrs Johnston sells a huge variety of items — in her premises there is a kitchen sink for sale, as well as a sculpture of an enormous snail, along with practical items such as washing machines, beds, and chests of drawers. Uniquely she has several massive cedar doors and she also sells boats and cars.She also carries Persian rugs from her Iranian homeland.In addition to the items that she has in her space on Dundonald Street, businesses including corporate organisations will consign items through her which remain in the offices until they are sold.Useful website: auctiondemitra.com